ST ALBANS Friends of the Earth group will be making a big noise when it campaigns for global rules for big businesses at the Leisure and Environmental Fair on Sunday.

Visitors to the group's stall at the St Albans fair will be asked to identify sounds including a roaring tiger, conch shell sounds, crashing waves and children playing.

The sounds represent aspects of the natural world that the group claims are under threat from global corporations.

The public's favourite sounds will be delivered to Earth Summit delegates by Friends of the Earth International with messages from all over the world.

The noises will be played on the Friends of the Earth's giant sound sculpture, which will be exhibited at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dr Andrew Cripps, of St Albans Friends of the Earth, said: "We want people in St Albans to join Friends of the Earth in making a noise. We want to send a really loud message to world leaders when they meet at the summit.

"All over the world, multinational corporations are exploiting our natural resources at the expense of local people and the environment.

"We want governments to stand up to big business and impose rules that will ensure that corporations work for the benefit of everyone."

The group is calling for an international treaty with new rules to prevent world organisations from damaging the environment and to hold them responsible for their actions.

The Earth Summit the World Summit on Sustainable Development takes place in South Africa from August 26 to September 4.

Visitors to Friends of the Earth's St Albans stall can also find out more about the activities of world corporations.

July 2, 2002 10:00